Fleetwood gran to become UK’s first ‘pet minister’

A minister is using her spiritual skills to help heartbroken owners say goodbye to their dying pets.

Shirley Wakefield, 58, is Britain’s first ‘pet minister’, holding memorial services and conducting prayers for owners as their beloved pets pass on to the other side.

The grandma-of-two, who lives on Marine Parade, Fleetwood, was ordained at Portland Street Spiritual Church in Southport and now uses her role as a minister to bring comfort to people grieving the loss of a pet.

She said: “Pets are family members. They mean just as much as a child to some people and when they go through the grieving process there’s nothing out there to help them.

“I believe there are many people who do need spiritual help when they lose a pet.

“People find it hard to say goodbye to a pet when it’s being put to sleep and I’m there to assure them that it’s going into good hands.”

Shirley was inspired to become a pet minister after holding holding a ‘pet blessing’ at Serendipity Spiritual Church at the Pensioner’s Hall in St Annes last year.